UNECE

12 March 2010: The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have begun collecting data on the state of forests and forest management in Europe. Data will be collected from 46 countries in the European region, and will include information on forest health and vitality, productive and protective functions, biodiversity and social and economic dimensions of forest management.

The second Africa Carbon Forum, which was held from 3-5 March 2010, in Nairobi, Kenya, sought to help build on growing interest in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in Africa, and concluded with expectations for a boost in Africa's share of the global carbon market.

25 February 2010: The 72nd annual session of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Inland Transport Committee, held from 23-25 February 2010, in Geneva, Switzerland, recognized that measures including better infrastructure planning, efficient border-crossing and transit procedures, technologically progressive vehicle construction norms and a greater role for environmentally-friendly modes, such as rail and inland navigation, are necessary steps to improve current and future transportation systems, with less pollution, in the pan-European region.

The Inland Transport Committee is the highest policy-making body of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in the field of transport. The 72nd session will discuss, among other things, climate change and transport, as well as a new project on climate change and road transport.

This event is organized by the World Bank, the International Energy Agency, and the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) among others. It is a forum for methane projects technology, financing and policy, and provides an opportunity to: showcase methane mitigation projects and technologies; learn about the latest methane mitigation projects and technologies; meet with potential project partners and financiers; explore key technical, financial, and policy issues; and interact with high-level government agencies from 30 countries.

17 February 2010: The “Weekly” newsletter of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), for the period 15-19 February 2010, announces that UNECE and the Methane to Markets Partnership have elaborated “Best Practice Guidance for Effective Methane Drainage and Use in Coal Mines.”

The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)/UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Timber section, in cooperation with the World Trade Organization (WTO), will organize a workshop to discuss tariff and non-tariff trade barriers and emerging trade regulations on timber. Participants will discuss the economic impacts of trade and trade-related measures on timber markets, taking into account the link between trade liberalization and the key challenges facing the forest-based sector, including climate change.

8 February 2010: The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Weekly newsletter, for the period 8-12 February 2010, reports on the first meeting of the Working Group on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation for the UNECE region, which convened on 5 February 2010, in Geneva, Switzerland.

25 January 2010: The “Weekly” newsletter of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) for the period 25-29 January 2010 reports on the first meeting in 2010 of the Executive Secretaries of the UN Regional Commissions, which included discussions on the outcome of the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference.

18 January 2010: The “Weekly” newsletter of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), for the period 18-22 January 2010, reports on the 59th session of the Working Party on Pollution and Energy of the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations, which met from 12-15 January 2010, in Geneva, Switzerland.